And back pain doesn’t discriminate. Whether you’re a waitress or an office worker, you may be susceptible to those awful aches. Heavy lifting isn’t the only culprit. It could very well be that your office chair, shoes, mobile device, posture and weight could be contributing factors.
In this exclusive, we take a closer look at the common factors that could be breaking your back.
5. Your Office Chair
Most Americans spend a good portion of their day sitting, whether behind a desk at an office job or watching TV with their families. U.S. News and World Report found that the average American sits for eight hours per day.
Much of your time sitting happens in the workplace, but Science Daily also found that people who sit for long hours at their job also tend to sit more at home. After a long day at work, where you’ve mentally exhausted yourself, it is understandable that you want to come home and relax on the couch. But is all that downtime beneficial for your back?
According to Spine Health, sitting in an office chair for long periods of time puts a lot of stress on your back, specifically your muscles and spinal discs. It is common for people to slouch when they are seated for a long duration, especially if they have weak abdominal muscles.
Doctors interviewed for an NPR report on back pain suggest standing up and moving for 15 minutes of each hour to lessen the impact of prolonged sitting.